I hope I didn't suggest that my dad was a monster about it.

I didn't think so. It was pretty clear to me that he ratcheted down considerably from his parents and then you came down again -- I think that's pretty common with these recent generations.

I had one friend who was flat out abused and promised herself she'd never hit her children -- it wasn't that she thought hitting was always completely irrevocably wrong, it was that she knew she had no sense of what would be sane.

My dad spanked me twice (that I remember), the last time when I was around seven and really being obnoxious. He gave me multiple warnings, but I kept pushing the subject, so he spanked me on the rear and sent me to bed early.

After that, they got really good at the "you've disappointed us" mode of punishment. I wanted their respect, so not disappointing them was always at the top of my mind.

After that, they got really good at the "you've disappointed us" mode of punishment. I wanted their respect, so not disappointing them was always at the top of my mind.

After that, they got really good at the "you've disappointed us" mode of punishment. I wanted their respect, so not disappointing them was always at the top of my mind.

My parents have been dead for years and this still works.

Ooh, the Field Museum has an exhibition of Maps now through early January.

My parents smacked the shit out of us. I even got a fat lip, once.

That Unshelved is so awesome! Except you should make them run a correction about your hair color...

Allyson, that is totally surreal, and amazing.

That Unshelved is so awesome!

Who here got spanked by their parents?

t raises hand

And it only cost me 2 bloody noses, 5 years and $25k in therapy bills to deal with it.

We don't spank Em as a rule, but we have on a few occasions and the first time I did, it made me physically sick to my stomach.